This week's guest is neither a horror guy nor neurodivergent. He lends his perspectives on TV production, neurotypical creativity, the early days of the internet, and Elon Musk. There's a live song, and a spirited discussion on whether or not suffering is required to make impactful art. Also The Last Broadcast, psychedelic therapy, and a Mad Lib.

Find more from Vann Weller here [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7751277550533673479/9001001334360163191#].

See The Last Broadcast here [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7751277550533673479/9001001334360163191#].

Find a complete transcript of this episode here. [https://sometimeshilarioushorror.blogspot.com/] 

Writer and Actor Vann Weller 

Sumiko Saulson [https://sumikosaulson.com/] is a Bram Stoker Award® Finalist for Poetry for The Rat King (2022, Dooky Zines) and Melancholia (2024, Bludgeoned Girls Press [http://www.angeliquejordonnaauthor.com/bludgeonedgirlspress.html#/]). Elgin Award Nominee (2022). 2018 Afrosurrealist Writers Award, and 2021 Ladies of Horror Readers Choice Award winner. Their novel Somnalia: The Metamorphoses of Flynn Keahi is available on Mocha Memoirs Press [https://mochamemoirspress.com/catalog/dark-mocha-bites/].

This week, we talk scary movies, church v state, aliens, magical thinking, and whether neo-pronouns are as new as they say. Also demons, The Rat King, and movies that made us realize we were bi. 

Guest: Sumiko Saulson

Tamara Thorne's first novel was published in 1991, and since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Brimstone, Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, and Eternity. A lifelong lover of ghost stories, she is currently working on several collaborations with Alistair Cross, including the next installment in The Ravencrest Saga, as well as The Spiral Sea, the next Old Wives’ Tales novel.

To learn more about Tamara and her books, visit her website. [http://tamarathorne.com] 

We talk Bette Davis movies, dads, cowardice, Don jr, writing partners, and polytheism. Also Bezos and journalism, that time the eggs were mad at me, why I'm still writing about Don jr, coping strategies, and Kung Fu panda. 

Guest: Author Tamara Thorne 

David Kempf [https://linktr.ee/MissingLink67]has written over fifty short stories, many with horror themes. He’s won several writing awards and is a frequent contributor to the British website Masters of Horror U.K. He has written two children's books, four plays, two short story collections, and produced several short films and audio drama podcasts. David was a contributing author to More Modern Myth-makers (from Crystal Lake Publishing) where he interviewed some of the top names in horror. He's also had several of his short stories featured on Dead Airwaves, a horror story podcast. David also contributed to the poetry book Venomous Words, which made the preliminary ballot nomination for the Bram Stoker Awards.

We talk Salem's Lot, shark movies and their ripoffs, the plusses and minuses of AA, living with tourettes, magic and magic movies, getting more than you bargained for, the Psycho franchise, and Tales from the Crypt.

Guest: Author and Magician David Kempf

Chapin Lennon is an activist and advocate who lives with dwarfism and is trans-masc. They are especially passionate about disability history and representation.  We talk Peter Dinklage and Billy Barty, fetishists, representation--and what to do should some maniac treat you as if you're "good luck." Plus Foul Play, The Greatest Showman, and The Station Agent.

A full transcript of this ep can be found here [https://sometimeshilarioushorror.blogspot.com/2025/03/mentally-oddcast-transcript-trans-masc.html].

Guest: Activist, trans-masc advocate Chapin Lennon 

Alistair Cross was born in the western United States and began penning his own stories by the age of eight. First published in 2012, Alistair has since released several more novels. In 2012, he joined forces with international bestselling author, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Alistair is currently at work on the seventh book in his bestselling Vampires of Crimson Cove series as well as an upcoming release in the Ravencrest Saga with Tamara Thorne.

We talk fiction, cookies, moms, bullies, sobriety, police, UHC, stalkers, addiction, and sobriety. Also, the Ravencrest Saga, the value of community, and why we love technology. An unedited transcript of this episode can be found here [https://sometimeshilarioushorror.blogspot.com/2025/03/mentally-oddcast-transcript-author.html]. 

Guest: Author Alistair Cross 

Briana [https://thebookendsreview.com/briana-cox/] Cox was born and raised in Tullahoma, TN — a town inexplicably found on state maps. (It just got a Publix!) She is the oldest of seven children and a first-generation academic with degrees in cognitive linguistics, Japanese language, and speech-language pathology. In 2019, she became a fellow with the TN Playwrights Studio and has been writing stageplays and low-budget film scripts ever since. She has been featured on the 2024 Next List for emerging screenwriters and has placed in the Academy Nicholl fellowship. Stay abreast of Briana’s projects on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/DG60e-RpaY3/?igsh=MXBmNHI2Ymdqd2V3Yg%3D%3D]. 

This week, we talk horror movies and representation, how media consumption is a political act, and the perils of pitching while disabled. Also, microaggressions, intentionality in casting, autism, and a MadLib. An original transcript of this episode can be found here [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7751277550533673479/1388421612435456484]. 

Guest: Screenwriter Briana Cox 

Bert is an author and editor who has always been one to read anything put in front of him, a passion he still enjoys, reading in all genres.

He has recently been published in multiple anthologies of flash fiction as well as in a magazine dedicated to supporting children with special needs. He also has multiple non-fiction and fiction pieces accepted for future publication. When not writing, he is active as a martial arts instructor, software developer, an amateur chef, and a strong proponent for disability rights and empowerment of women.

We talk bullying and ableism, Alice Cooper and charity anthologies, Evil Dead, audiobooks, and Edens' work. And of course there's a Madlib.

https://linktr.ee/bertedens

Guest: Author and Editor Bert Edens 

Kody Boye Is a young adult horror, fantasy, and science-fiction author currently residing In the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. When not writing, he enjoys reading, playing video games, and pestering his many cats.

www.kodyboye.com

www.youtube.com/@KodyBoyeBooks

We talk Shark movies, advocacy, Kody's HIV diagnosis, and why he avoids Mary Sues. Also generational trauma, YA fiction, and how bipolar disorder impacts work output. TW suicide. 

A complete transcript can be accessed here [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7751277550533673479/2679630772472642118]. 

Guest: YA Author Kody Boye 

Author Stefan Petrucha's work has sold several million copies worldwide, with over twenty novels to his name, including original works such as Ripperand Dead Mann Walking, and licensed prose novels like Spider-Man: Forever Young and Deadpool: Paws for Marvel. He's also written hundreds of graphic novels, spanning iconic franchises such as The X-Files, Beowulf, Mickey Mouse, and Nancy Drew. His latest, an effort of seven years, is the original science fiction epic, The Stars Within, on sale now [https://www.gungnirbooks.com/series/the-stars-within].

We talk mental health, redemption and voting, zombies, Frankenstein, and schizophrenic episodes. Plus the Hessius Mann books, writing in general, and a MadLib. 

Guest: Author Stefan Petrucha 

Brought to you by Sometimes Hilarious Horror, the Mentally Oddcast features creatives discussing how mental illness, addiction, neurodivergence, and the impact of trauma informs & inspires their art. New eps every Wednesday! CW/TW for discussions on suicide, addiction, abuse, SA. 

Host Wednesday Lee Friday is the owner/EiC of Sometimes Hilarious Horror magazine, a quarterly horror lit mag for lovers of dark comedy. She's the author of A Stabbing for Sadie, Kiss Me Like You Love Me, The Finster Effect, and multiple short story collections. 

Intro/Outtro music by Peter Alway

the Mentally Oddcast

It's me, Wednesday Lee Friday. I host the Mentally Oddcast and Gratis Guignol. 

Wednesday Lee Friday

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